The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Marianas Visitors Authority are pinning their hopes of reviving the slumping Japanese tourism market on Skymark Airlines Inc.<\/p>\n
HANMI chair and MVA board member Gloria Cavanagh said the co-promotional agreement signed between the CNMI government and the airline last week would re-open direct flights between Japan and Saipan.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it comes to Japan, Skymark is going to be right now our flight direct from Japan. It just makes sense,\u201d said Cavanagh after MVA board\u2019s meeting last Wednesday. <\/p>\n
She said Japan is the CNMI\u2019s first and only market for many years and that the hotel association has always supported the Japan market. Cavanagh said they were always the priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very happy and we\u2019re looking forward to this relationship with Skymark and to welcome back the Japan market. It is very important,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
The CNMI needs to diversify its tourism markets, in order to have a healthy economy, Cavanagh said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see, for instance, the Korean market that was not doing so well after the storm. To pick up Japan again is a very good risk,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
MVA managing director Christopher Concepcion said they are excited about the partnership between MVA, the governor\u2019s office, and Skymark. <\/p>\n
Concepcion said Skymark is going to start with charters this spring or March.<\/p>\n
A Skymark team will attend MVA\u2019s general membership meeting today, Friday, at Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan to give a background of the airline company, so that people in the CNMI will be familiar with who they are.<\/p>\n
Skymark officials are here this week to meet personnel at the Francisco C. Ada\/Saipan International Airport, Commonwealth Ports Authority, as well as with a catering company and ground handling company, so they could begin operations in the CNMI.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re excited about it. It\u2019s going to be the revival of the Japan market,\u201d Concepcion said.<\/p>\n
MVA board member Chris Nelson said they are excited that the team from Skymark, whom they met in Japan, are here on the island.<\/p>\n
Nelson said Skymark is expected to talk about their upcoming flight from Japan at the MVA membership meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know the details but we are expecting to hear positive news from them [today],\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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